Going Brazilian. Brazil is more than world-class soccer and coffee, a group of Brazilian dignitaries shared with the campus this week. Visitors from Palmas, a 15-year-old city in the state of Tocantins, came to Colorado Springs to explore a Sister City relationship. While in town, the group, which included the city’s mayor, the state’s governor and first lady, as well as business leaders, explained the city’s burgeoning tourism and high-tech industries and explored opportunities for student and cultural exchanges. Vice Chancellors Rogers Redding and Brian Burnett provided an official welcome to the group and were assisted by Jim Null, professor, Political Science, a former city council member. Carlos Araujo, professor, Engineering, served as an impromptu interpreter and tour guide as did Christina Martinez, senior instructor, Kraemer Family Library. Araujo is a Brazilian native and Martinez lived in the country as a child. For more about Palmas, visit http://home.wxs.nl/~rolfpoll/

Scary times. What would fall be without scary stories and movies, trick-or-treaters and a little blood? Find all three without leaving campus.

They vant to suck your blood: Don’t worry, no vampires will be on hand as the annual blood drive is underway 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 26 in The Lodge (upstairs) and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday Oct. 27 in University Center 303. Appointments are accepted at 262-3541, but walk-ins are always welcome. This way when Dracula comes a knocking, you can tell him, “Sorry, I gave at the office.”

Spine-tinglers: Nationally known master storyteller and UCCS adjunct professor John Stansfield will team with Robert von Dassanowsky, associate professor, Languages and Cultures, for an evening of fright. Stansfield will present scary stories while von Dassanowsky examines how horror is constructed in film and how the audience is manipulated by the story and visual. Join the duo from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday Oct. 27 in the Kraemer Family Library, third- floor apse. For more information, contact hpostuit@uccs.edu.

Candy from strangers: The little ghosts and goblins at the Family Development Center will come trick-or-treating through Main Hall and the El Pomar Center on Halloween afternoon (that’s Monday, Oct. 31). If you’d like to be visited by a group of adorable children in costume, let Ida Bauer know – they will only visit offices that have indicated a visit is welcome. Call 262-3483.

Receiving IS better than giving: Bring your costumed kids to the Summit Village for a warmer, gentler, trick-or-treat experience. The buildings will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. on Halloween evening. Residents with candy will post signs. Alpine Village will also host a Halloween Carnival with games and parent-favorite healthy snacks.

In the media. A debate about Referendum C sponsored by the Campus Activities Board featuring El Paso County Commission Doug Bruce and former Colorado Springs City Council member John Hazlehurst drew an overflow crowd to the Lodge this week. The event also brought television cameras. To see KOAA’s coverage of the debate, visit http://www.koaa.com/news/view.asp?ID=4132. To see the station’s latest “Truth Check” segment visit http://www.koaa.com/video/play.asp?cat=news&id=4144.

Tobacco or marijuana: which weed is healthier? Robert Melamede, associate professor, Biology, writing in the “Harm Reduction Journal,” says that while tobacco and marijuana smoke are chemically similar, their effects on the body are different. Melamede’s research was the subject of considerable media attention in Britain and also appears on the Web MD web site. To see the short version of the research, visit

A view of the future. Will El Paso County’s building boom continue? What are the effects of higher interest rates and energy costs for our region? And how will the national economy affect us? Fred Crowley, associate research professor, Business, and Tom Zwirlein, professor, Business, will join with Paul Tiffany of the University of California, Berkeley, to present the Southern Colorado Economic Forum beginning at 8 a.m. Nov. 3 at the Antlers Hilton Hotel, address. To register, or for more information, visit http://web.uccs.edu/scef/2005Forum.

One book, one child, at a time. The Colorado Springs Gazette recently featured the efforts of Barbara Swaby, professor, Education, to improve literacy in our community. Specifically, the Gazette focused on Swaby’s Literacy on the Go program designed to get books into the hands of children whose homes were damaged by recent hurricanes. To learn more about LOGO and Swaby’s research, visit http://www.uccs.edu/~ur/media/mediawatch/view_article.php?y=mediawatch_articles&article_id=14321.

Coming and going. COSMIX construction on I-25 is already affecting campus but will soon ramp up, literally. Beginning Oct. 25 and continuing for approximately seven weeks, north bound ramps to I-25 from Garden of the Gods will be reduced to one lane. Eventually, the ramps will be expanded and traffic flow improved but, for now, commuters are encouraged to use “alternate routes.” To stay informed about the COSMIX project, visit www.cosmixproject.com.

Making UCCS sustainable. Linda Kogan, a UCCS alumna, recently joined the Facilities Services staff and will oversee efforts to make the campus a more sustainable enterprise. Kogan’s master’s thesis, “The Ecological Footprint of UCCS,” was a deciding factor in her selection, according to Dave Schnabel, director, Facilities Services. Not sure what sustainability means and why it’s important? Read the Sustainability Committee’s Inventing the Future report at http://www.uccs.edu/~internal/docs/UCCS_Sustainability%20Taskforce_Final%20Report_6.6.2005.doc.

Want to know what’s happening on campus? Want others to know about your event? Try the UCCS Event Calendar at http://tle2.uccs.edu/webcal/month.php. It’s a free and convenient way to let people know about your campus event.

Communique is the on-line newsletter for UCCS faculty and staff. It is published weekly and sent to faculty and staff e-mail lists and, by request, to other e-mail addresses. Previous issues are available at http://web.uccs.edu/ur/communique.htm. Suggestions and comments are welcome. Send ideas to ur@uccs.edu or call Tom Hutton, 262-3439.